Matt Laurie is developing a knack for training winners on the annual VOBIS raceday at Caulfield having won the inaugural running of the million-dollar Showdown (1200m) in 2019 with Prince Of Sussex, and has followed up in 2022 with Chartres taking out the $500,000 VOBIS Sires Guineas (1600m).
A group of Victorian hobby breeders and strong supporters of the Laurie stable shared ownership of both horses across the three-year timespan for even stronger windfalls with on the rich raceday.
By Victorian-based sire Toronado who stands at Swettenham Stud, three-year-old gelding Chartres ($5.50) notched his third win in eight starts to add to two minor placings.
“He’s a genuine little horse,” Laurie said post-race.
“He doesn’t run a bad race and was really well placed against this field today, so it was good to see him put them away.”
Of the three editions of this event, Toronado has sired two of the winners with Ripper Rita claiming the Guineas in 2021.
“He’s a horse that keeps making good solid progression,” Laurie added on Chartres.
“He comes into the race at the right time, and he responds to pressure.
“He’s very genuine and on paper it looked a beautiful race for him and it’s great that it’s come off.”
Chartres provided jockey Ethan Brown with a running double after he won aboard Comica in the $200,000 VOBIS Gold Distaff.
Chartres was Toronado’s 197th winner for the 2021/22 season.